Two Republican candidates vying to represent the newly drawn Illinois 89th
State Rep. Tony McCombie and Victoria Onorato are vying to be the Republican nominee to fill Illinois' 89th House District seat in the June 28 primary.
The newly redrawn district consists of all or parts of Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. The seat is currently held by State Rep. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, who was drawn into the 90th District and is running for Illinois Senate.
The candidates were asked to share their thoughts on health care, taxes and crime. Onorato failed to return her questionnaire and did not respond to emails or phone calls.
Here are the responses by McCombie:
Name: Tony McCombie
Age: 49
City of residence: Savanna
Education: Western Illinois University, University of Illinois Chicago
Work experience: Owns and operates Blue Appraisals, real estate agent with Mel Foster Co.
Political experience: Three-term 71st District representative, former council member and mayor of Savanna.
Organizations and memberships: Did not answer
Family: Curt Hockman, husband
Health care costs continue to soar. What proposals do you have to address the escalating costs of health care including prescription drugs?
I supported legislation to reduce the cost of insulin. I am empathetic to the concerns of working families who cannot afford needed healthcare and prescriptions.
The legislature has been correctly cautious to pass policies enacting prescription price control. Prescription manufacturers have expressed very real concerns that such a move could limit innovation and keep new treatments from swiftly coming to market.
The Illinois legislature should work with manufacturers to encourage and incentivize rebate programs for those who need financial assistance with prescriptions. A more competitive environment for healthcare insurers and providers would help reduce healthcare costs in Illinois.
Illinois has been ranked as the least tax-friendly state for the middle class in the nation. How will you try and help ease the burden on taxpayers?
Those who can least afford it are those most hurt by our inflationary economy. Hardworking families struggle paycheck to paycheck with prices making them question affordability to even go out and earn a living. We need to structurally and politically reform Illinois. We can begin by cutting taxes, increasing efficiencies, prioritizing spending and most importantly spending less than we bring in. I have supported reducing the gas tax, license plate fees, vehicle transfer taxes and trailer fees. We need more like-minded fiscally conservative legislators to have conversations and enact true and long-lasting reforms.
Violent crime continues to plague the Rockford area and the state as a whole. What legislation will you introduce or support to combat violent crimes?
We must fully repeal the SAFE-T Act and get back to holding criminals accountable for their behavior. Catch and release policies along with no cash bail, which will be enacted shortly after November’s election, put dangerous criminals back out on our streets at a lightning rate. How awful for victims of violent crime, domestic violence and other serious offenses.
Protecting the safety of its people is a primary responsibility of government. As I talk with my sheriffs and police chiefs (most of which publicly fought against the SAFE-T Act), it is getting harder to recruit new officers. Fewer qualified law enforcement professionals give professional criminals the upper hand. Repeal the SAFE-T Act, restore cash bail, increase penalties for gun violence and back the blue. That’s what we need to help make neighborhoods safer in Illinois.
Chris Green: 815-987-1241, cgreen@rrstar.com, @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Two Republican candidates running in Illinois' new 89th District
